Woman Avoids Prison in Embezzlement Case

Posted: Thu 4:23 PM, Oct 28, 2004&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Thu 4:23 PM, Oct 28, 2004

10-28-04 - Lena Beavers Weger, 53, of Denison pled guilty to one count of Theft Over $100,000 Less Than $200,000, and one count of Theft Over $1500 Less Than $20,000. In May of 2003, Weger and another woman were charged with the theft of more than $160,000 from the medical office of Drs. Patrick McGrael and Stephen Johnson. Weger was also charged with the theft of more than $6,600 from the Grayson County Medical Society.

An investigation by the Texas Rangers and Denison Police Department revealed that Weger and Cindy Beckman, who were employees of Texoma Urology Associates, wrote checks on the office account to themselves and for personal expenses and altered financial records to hide the thefts. Weger also was found to have forged checks on the account of the Grayson County Medical Society, for which Dr. Johnson served as an officer with check writing authority.

Unable to reach agreement on punishment with the Grayson County Attorney's Office, Weger asked Judge Ray Grisham of the 336th District Court to set her punishment. Grisham sentenced her to 10 years Deferred Adjudication Probation, a $500 fine, and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $128,400, which the judge determined to be the portion of the missing money for which Weger was responsible, plus one half of the cost of a financial audit that was required as a result of the theft. Weger was sentenced to 5 years deferred adjudication probation, a $500 fine, and $6,600 in restitution for the theft from the Grayson County Medical Society. The Theft Over $100,000 case is a 2nd degree felony with a punishment range of 2-20 years in prison and $10,000 fine. The other charge was a state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to 2 years in state jail and a $10,000 fine.

"We would not offer deferred adjudication in a case like this where that much money that was taken," said Grayson County Attorney Joe Brown. "I am glad that the doctors and the medical society will get their money back. If she doesn't pay, we will ask the court to revoke her probation and send her to prison."

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